ZOE DAVISON, from Tetbury, is aiming to represent Great Britain at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships in August.

The 16-year-old has been recently selected for the World Class Programme for Modern Pentathlon in Budapest.

"Budapest was a spectacular city with outstanding training facilities," said Zoe. "Luckily the food was incredibly good and due to the gruelling training programme, I've never eaten so much!

"The training was challenging but I had the real sense that I can reach my goal and compete at world level."

Last month she competed for Great Britain at the Youth International meeting in Solihull, finishing eighth in a strong field and she was part of the silver medal-winning team for GB.

She reached her personal best in all three disciplines with a particularly strong swim.

Zoe has been posting some of her best results recently, out-swimming and out-shooting the GB No.1 at a regional qualifier to win by almost 100 points.

She loves all the disciplines but admits her favourite is riding.

"I love it that I never know what the day will bring and which disciplines I will excel at," she said. "It changes from day to day and that is what makes it so exciting."

Wycliffe School pupil Zoe's normal routine is 15 hours' training per week, covering all five disciplines of modern pentathlon – swimming, running, fencing, riding and the combined shoot and run section.

Her focus is on her swimming, done with Tritons Swim Club in Stroud, and running at Gloucester AC and also at Wycliffe.

Time is also spent fencing, both at Hartpury College and with Shaun Garley at Wycliffe, while cricketer Ben Gannon, a sports teacher at Wycliffe, takes an important role in Zoe's strength and conditioning programme. Come the weekend, Zoe is out riding.

Shooting practice is done at her Tetbury home with brother Charlie getting roped in to patiently time her five shots.

"Shooting is done every night out of the living room and across the hall," said Zoe. "Using laser technology, I can shoot the required 10 metres without hitting our labrador Winston or any other family members!"